Internal-combustion engine



y 9, 1929- A. E. L. CHORLTON 1,720.510

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed July 1, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a Q: I m M A. E. l... CHORLTON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE July 9, 1929..

Original Filed July 1, 1925 5 Sheets-$heet 2 y 9, 1929- A. L. CHORLTON LYZMHQ INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed July 1, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 9 1929. A. E. L. CHORLTON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed July 1, 1925 F/a/ Q 60:.

July 1929. A. E. L. CHORLTON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed July 1, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ill iii

Patented July 9 ,1929.

UNITED STATES I I (1,720,510 PATENT-OFFICE.

ALAN ERNEST LIOIBIO GHOBLTOH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, LSSIGNOB OI ORB-m 1'0 BEABDIOBE, 0! LONDON, ENGLAND. 1 I

MEB NAL-GOIBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed July 1, 1925, Serial Ho. 40,926. Renewed July 1, 1827. i

This invention relates to an engine casing for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines, and more particularly those of the compression ignition type such as Diesel engines.

Engines of the compression ignition type in which the fuel is injected directly into the cylinders have previousl been adapted to operate at comparative y low rotational speeds and their weight has been relatively great since, owing to the high pressures at which such engines operate as compared with the pressure obtaining in ordinary internal combustion engines of the explosion type, the cylinder walls, cylinder heads, casing, main bearings etc. have all to be made of increased strength to withstand the considerable stresses to which they are subjected both from internal pressures within the cylinders and from the longitudinal, transverse and vertical stresses in the casing.

Up to the present time it has been considered that compression ignition engines could only be economically and satisfactorily operated when built of a size capable of furmshing relatively high horse power with the result that the Diesel engine principle has almost exclusively been employed in engines of relatively great weight and size such for instance as engines for sea-going vessels or as the prime movers in factories. Further I such engines were built up from a series of parts for example a bed plate carrying the crank shaft bearings, distance pieces bolted thereto and cylinders bolted to the'distance pieces. In such an arrangement all the joints had to be reinforced and a large number of heavy bolts had to be employed thus considengine casing which serves not only to support the c hnders but also the crank shaft and cvlln er heads and other mechanism.

it further object is to provide an engine casing which will withstand not only the stresses 1nc1dent to the normal working of the engine but also vertical or transverse stresses imparted to it when mounted on an unsteady or vibratory basesuch as the floor or frame of a railway car, so that the crank shaft bearmgs are never twisted out of alignment either horizontally or vertically.

A further object is to provide an engine casing winch constitutes not only a mounting or support for the operative parts of the englne ut also constitutes a stress member for resisting all stresses to which the engine as a whole is subjected.

A further object is to provide an engine of the V type which will fullfill the above requirements.

:Iwo embodiments of the invention as applied respectively to an engine having a single row of cylinders and an engine havmg two rows of cylinders set at an angle to one another are lllustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one construction of engine in which the improved engine casing is embodied in an engine having a single row of cylinders, a portion of the easing being broken away to show one of the pistons,

Figure 2 is a' section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is "a transverse section through the engine casing before assembl erably increasing the weight of the engine,- Figure 4 is a top plan view oglshe engine For these reasons compression ignitlon engines of relatively small size and light weight for their horse power have not previously been considered practicable.

One object of the present invention is to provide an engine casing for a compression ignition engine of relatively small size, for instance one which. might be employed to propel railway cars or for stationary engine purposes, which will withstand the heavy pressures incident to the operation of all compression ignition engines, will be of relatively light weight and will withstand twisting, longitudinal and transverse stresses and mechanical shock.

A further object is to provide an integral casing,

Figure 5 is a section on theline 55 of Figure Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section of an alternative construction casing as embodied in an engine having two rows of cylinders set at an angle to one another,

Figure 7 is a top plan view of part of the engine casing,

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Figure 7, and

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

The engine illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 municating with the crank case and into.

has eight cylinders arranged in a single row but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to an engine casing having any particular number ofcylinders which may be four, eight, twelve or some other number. The engine casing as shown is formed in two similar parts A and B substantially identical, these parts being secured together by bolts C. The entire casing may, however, be formed in one piece. Further, while the casing is preferably formed of cast steel, it may be formed of cast iron, aluminum or other material.

Each section of the casing comprises essentially'a top plate 10 having aligned circular apertures 13 for the reception of the cylinders, downwardly diverging side plates 11, integral therewith, andparallel downwardly extending webs or vertical transverse plates 12, also integral therewith, the vertical transverse plates at the ends of the top plates constituting end plates for the frame or casing while the intermediate vertical transverse plates are disposed between the circular apertures in the top plate, the whole comprlsing a one-piece structure which may be designated a cellular structure, inasmuch as it includes a plurality, for example, four cell-like, parallel recesses or apertures extending vertically therethrough. Each of the cylinders is provided with a flange 15, which is clamped between the top plate 10 and the removable head 16 of that particular cylinder, so that the cylinders are suspended from the top plate 10, the cylinders having individual cylinder heads, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The lower end of each cylinder is laterally supported by an annular flange 17, coaxial with the corresponding circular apertures 13 and formed integral with an intermediate plate 18. The plates 18 are formed integral with the side plates 11 and'the vertical transverse plates or webs 12 and they divide the cellular spaces into lower portions comupper jacket-forming portions. Each plate 18 transmits the side thrust of its associated piston to the side plates of the casing and generally strengthens the casing construction.

Each cylinder is provided with a raised portion or annular rib 19 which fits against the corresponding annular flange 17 and which is provided with rings 20 to make a tight joint between the outer wall of the cylinder and the inner surface of flange 17 so that water may not leak from the water chamber or jacket space 21 into the crank case below.

The bottoms of the vertical transverse plates or webs 12 are'thickened at 22, these thickened portions being substantially triangular in cross-section and made hollow, as shown clearly in Figure 1 so as to constitute box girders. They extend transversely between the sideplates 11 and also, in effect, extend through the side plates, though integral therewith, having end portions 23 which appear as substantially triangular webs or ribs on the outside of the side plates. Each such projecting portion is provided with a vertical aperture 23 for the reception of a bolt, by means of which the casing may be secured to a bed or foundation. The thickened lower edges of the webs, therefore, constitute rigid transverse supports for the casing and it may be said that substantially the entire weight of the power plant is carried by these members. They impart great rigidity to the structure. Furthermore, they constitute the supports for the crank shaft, which is indicated at 24, each web being recessed at 25 for the reception of a crank shaft bearing. Downwardly projecting lugs or cars 26 prevent lateral displacement of the lower bearing half 27 when this is secured in place. Joined to the lower end of each of the side plates 11 is an outwardly-extending stifi'ening member 11 which, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 to 3, of the drawings, extends horizontally along the engine casing at substantially the horizontal plane of the crank shaft axis. Each of the stiffening members 11' is preterably formed integral with its associated side late 11 as well as with the end portions 23 0% the box girders. The stiffening members 11' serve to add rigidity to the entire engine casing in a horizontal plane so as to resist any tendency toward deflection or warping of the crank shaft as may be caused by the various bending moments applied to the different portions of the crank shaft by the pistons of the several cylinders.

Suitable hand holes 28 are provided in the side plates 11, which hand holes are normally covered by plates 29, and apertures in the intermediate vertical webs or plates 12 are indicated at 30, which apertures are provided for permitting the flow of cooling water from one compartment to the next. These holes are so positioned, however. as to not to weaken the structure materially. Further holes 30 are provided in the intermediate plates or webs 12 for convenience in casting.

The top plate 10 is provided with apertures 31 through which water may flow to or from the water chamber or jacket space 21, and a cylindrical longitudinal member 32 is cast integral with one of the side plates 11. adjacent its upper edge, for the reception of the cam shaft of the engine. Otherbrackets, supports or apertures may be provided for the purpose of accommodating or supporting engine parts, but these added features do not affect or modify the main features of the novelcasing construction above described.

In the alternative construction illustrated in Figures 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings the engine has eight cylinders arran ed in two rows of four cylinders each dispose at an angle to one another. The invention is not limited, however, to a casing for an engine having any particular number of cylinders but may be applied to the casings of engines having four, six, twelve or some other number of cylinders. y

The casing is formed as a single integral unit comprising essentially two inclined top plates 33, 34 from which the cylinders are adapted to be suspended, these plates bein connected at their inner edges by an integra curved plate 35, downwardly extending side plates 36 integral with the outer edges of the top plates, parallel downwardly extending transverse webs or vertical plates 37 formed integral with the top plates and side plates and extending between each pair of cylinders, each of these transverse webs or vertical plates comprising two parallel walls, and a central longitudinal wall 38 extending vertically fromthe centre of the curved plate 35 between each pair of transverse plates or webs and formed integral therewith, the whole comprising acne-piece structure which may be designated a cellular structure inasmuch as it includes eight cell-like parallel recesses or apertures extending vertically therethrough. Aligned circular apertures'39 are provided in each top plate 33. 34 for the reception of the cylinders 40. Each cylinder is provided with a flange41 which is clamped between a top plate 33 or 34 and the removable cylinder head42'of the particular cylinder so that the cylinders are suspended from the top plates and have individual cylinder heads as clearly shown in Figure 6.

' The adjacent pair of, cylinders in the two[ rows are not in line but slightly staggered as shown in the drawings, the connecting rods of each pair acting on a commoncrank 43 on a crank shaft 44. v

The lower ends of the cylinders are later ally supported by further inclined intermediate plates 45. one for each cylinder, the inner edges of these plates being formed integralagith the lower edges of the walls 38, their outer edges integral with the side plates 36 while their ends are integral with the transverse plates ,or webs 37 as shown in Figure 6.

The transverse plates or webs 37 in addition to imparting great strength-tothe structure, constitutesupports for the crank shaft 44, each web being recessed at 46 for the reception of a crank shaft bearing. Downwardly projecting lugs or cars 47 prevent lateral displacement of the lower half 48 of the hearing which is secured in place by bolts 49 as shown in Figure 8. 'The top diaphragm plates are provided wth apertures I 50 through which. water may flow to and from the cylinder heads.

Bolted to the outside of the engine casing 52, 53 disposed one on elther-sideof theengine casing, while holes 54, 55are'provided in the side walls or plates 36 'andthetop plates 33, 34 between the two walls of each .transverse girder to accommodate the tappet rods 56 for the valves 57 which lie ad'acent to one another in the two rows of cylin ers as clearly shown in Figure 8.

The lower edges ofthe side plates 36 are conveniently formed of box section as shown at 58 and can hollow bosses 59 to accommodate holding own bolts for the en 'ne.

In either of the above describe constructions the casing isthe stress member of the engine. It supports the various engine parts, resists the stresses due to engine operation and the stresses imparted by external .forces, maintaining at all times the cylinders in parallelism and the hearings in alignment. It is designed to have ample strength without excess weight. It is simple, maybe cast pression ignition engine of. much lighter 'weight per horse powerthan has hitherto been thought possible, so that the field of the compression ignition engine catibe greatly en-' larged and this principle applied to engines 'for purposes for which it has previously been-- considered-i111 'ble to employ such engines.

What I claim as to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including atop plate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having t eir upper margins joined to the side margins of the top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins oined to the side plates and their top margins joined to the top plate, said vertical-transverse plates being disposed at the end portions 'of the top plate and between cylinder openings in the latter and cooperating with the side plates to provide a plurality of ver tical cellular spaces arranged 'side-by-side; cylinders separate from said frame, having their top portions secured to the latter, alined with said openings and depending into the cellular spaces; said casing or frame member including means cooperating with the side and vertical transverse plates to hold the lower portions of the cylinders in place and to provide for the cylinders jacket spaces formed by the upper portions of the cellular spaces, torsionally resistive girder members joined-to the lower portions of the vertical transverse plates and to the side plates, and horizontal flanges joined to the lower edges of the side plates; and crank shaft bearings suspendingly supported by the girder members;

my invention and desire said irder members having prolongations exten ing beyond the side plates and joined to the latter and to the horizontal flanges and said casing or frame member constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity capable of withstanding the severe stresses set up due to running of the engine.

2. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including a top plate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having their upper margins joined to the side margins of the top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins joined to the side plates and their top margins joined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openings in the latter and cooperating with the side plates to provide a plurality of vertical cellular spaces arranged side-b -side; 0 linders separate from said frame, aving their top portions secured to the latter, alined with sald openings and depending into the cellular spaces; said casing'or frame member including means cooperating with the side and vertical transverse plates to hold the lower portions of the cylinders in place and to provide for the cylinders cooling jacket spaces formed by theupper portions of said cellular spaces and including girder members joined to the lower portions of the vertical plates and to the side plates; engine supporting feet joined to and extending outwardly from the lower portions of the side plates and constituting prolongations of said girder members; and crank shaft bearings supported by the girder members; said casing or frame members constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity and capable of withstanding the severe stresses set up by the running of the engine.

3. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including a top plate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having their upper margins joined to the side margins of the top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins joined-to the side platesand their top margins joined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openings in the latter and cooperating with the side plates to provide a plurality of vertical cellular spaces arranged side-byside; cylinders separate from said frame, having their top portions secured to the latter, alined with said openings and depending into the cellular spaces; said casing or frame member including means-cooperating with the side and vertical transverse plates to-hold the lower portions of the cylinders in place and to provide for the cylinders cooling jacket spaces formed by the upper portions of said cellular spaces and girder members of inverted V cross-section joined to the lower portions of the vertical plates and to the side plates; and crank shaft bearings supported by the lower sides of the girder members; said casing or frame member constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity and capable of withstanding the severe stresses sct up by the running of the engine.

4. In a high-speed, multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including a top plate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having their u per margins joined to the side margins of the top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins joined to the side plates and theirtop margins joined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openings in the latter and cooperating with the side plates to provide a plurality of vertical cellular spaces arranged side-byside; cylinders separate from said frame, having their top portions secured to the latter, alined with said openings and depending into the cellular spaces; said casing or frame member including means cooperating with the side and vertical transverse plates to hold the lower portions of the cylinders in place and to provide for the cylinders cooling jacket spaces formed by the upper portions of said cellular spaces and torsionally resistive girder members joined to the lower portions of the vertical plates and joined to the side plates; and crank shaft bearings supported by the girder members, said casing or frame constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity and capable of withstanding the severe stresses set up by the running of the engine.

5. In a highspeed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a combined casing and frame member including a top plate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having their upper margins joined to the side margins of the top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins joined to the side plates and their top margins joined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openings in the latter and cooperating with the side plates to provide a plurality of vertical cellular spaces arranged side-by-side; cylinders separate from said frame, having their top portions secured to the latter, alined with said openings and depending into the cellular spaces; said casing or frame member including means cooperating with the side and vertical transverse plates to hold the lower portions of the cyliners in place and to provide for thecylinders cooling jacket spaces formed by the upper portions of said cellular spaces and torsionally resistive irder members alincd with said vertical pdates and joined to the side lates; and crank shaft bearings supported y the girder members; said'casing or frame member constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity capable of withstanding the severe stresses set-up by the running of the engine. 6. In an engine, the combination of a frame including side plates; girder members extending transversely between the side plates, joined to and pro ecting through the side plates and extending beyond thelatter, said projecting portions providing means for securing the engine; and crank shaft bearings carried by the girder members.

7. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including a top plate provided with openings for cylinders, side plates having the upper edges thereof formed integrally with side edges ofthe top plate, and vertical transverse plates having opposed lateral edges formed integrally with the side plates and their top edges formed integrally with the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being dlsposed at the ends of the top plate and alternately with respect to said openings and cooperating with said side plates to'provide a plurality of cellular spaces disposed side-by-side; c linders having their upper ends held in p ace with respect to said top plate and depending through the openings of the latter into the cellular spaces; and casing or frame member including means connected to the side and vertical transverse plates for holding the lowerends of the c linders in place and dividing the cell ar spaces'into upper and lower portions, the providing cooling jacket upper fportions spaces or the cyhnders; a crank case member having its upper edges fitting the lower edges of the side and end vertica transverse plates to provide a crank case s ace includin the lower portions of said cellu ar spaces; an crank shaft bearings carried by one of said members; said frame or casing member con-- stituting a unitary stres construction of great rigidity capable of withstanding the severe stresses set up by the running of the engine.

8. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including a topplate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having their upper margins joined-to the side margins of t e top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins joined to the side plates and their top margins oined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openmgs 1n the latter and cooperatin with the side plates to provide a plurality 0 vertical cellular spaces arranged side-byside; cylinders separate from said frame, havlng their top portions secured to the latter, alined with said openin and depending into the cellular spaces; sai casing or frame.

member including means cooperating with the slde and vertical transverse plates to hold the lower portions of the cylinders in lace and toprovide for. the'cylinders cooling jackcylinder openingstherein, side plates having their upper margins joined to the side margins of t e top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins joined to the side plates and their top margins oined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openings in the latter and cooperating with the side lates to provide a plurality of vertical cel ular spaces arranged side-b -side; cylinders separate from sa1d frame, av

their top portions secured to the latter, alilliid with said openings and depending into the cellular spaces; said casing or frame member including means cooperating with the side and vertical transverse plates to hold the lower portions of the cylinders in place and to provide for the cylinders cooling jacket spaces formed by the upper ortions of said cellular spaces and horizonta flanges arranged at the lower edges of the side 1plates;

and crank shaft bearings. suspending y supported by the vertical transverse plates and aving t eir axis substantially in the plane of said flanges; said casing or frame member constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity capable of withstanding the severe stresses set up by the running of the engine.

10. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including a top plate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having their upper margins joined to'the side maroined to the side plates and their top margins joined to the top late, said vertical transverse plates being isposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openin s in the latter and cooperating with the si e plates to prpvide a plurality of vertical, cellular spaces arranged side-byside; cylinders separate from said frame, having flanges at their upper ends for supporting them from the top plate, and dependin through said cylinder openings lnto the cel ular spaces; heads for t e cylinders arranged to fixedly secure the cylinder flanges with respect to the top plate; said casing or frame member including means cooperating with the side and vertical transverse lates to hold the lower portions of the cylinders in place and to provide, for the cylinders, cooling jacket spaces formed by the upper portions of said cellular spaces; and crank shaft bearings suspendingly supported by the vertical transverse plates; said casing or frame member constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity capable of withstanding the severe stresses set up by the running of the engine.

11. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including atop plate havin cylinder openings therein, side plates having t eir upper margins joined to the side margins of the top plate, vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins oined to the side plates and their top margins joined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openings in' the latter and cooperating with the side plates to provide a plurality of vertical cellular spaces and plates arranged intermediately of the height of the respective cellular spaces and joined to the side and vertical transverse plates,3said intermediate plates having 0 finder-receiving openings vertically aligne with the openings in the top plate; cylinders separate from said frame, having their top portions secured to the latter and extending through pairs of alined openings and upper portions of the cellular spaces, whereby such upper portions of the cellular spaces serve as coolin jacket spaces for the cylinders; and cran shaft bearin s suspendingly supported from the vertica transverse lates; said casing or frame member constituting a unitary stress construction of great rigidity capable of withstanding the severe stresses set up by the running of the engine. 12. In a high-speed, multiple cylinder internal combustion engine of the compression ignition type, the combination of a casing or frame member including a top plate having cylinder openings therein, side plates having tie ir upper margins joined to the side margins of the top plate, and vertical transverse plates having their opposed side margins joined to the side plates and their top margins joined to the top plate, said vertical transverse plates being disposed at the end portions of the top plate and between cylinder openings in the latter and cooperating with the side plates to provide a plurality of vertical cellular spaces arranged side-by- .side; cylinders separate from said frame,

having their top portions secured to the latter, alined with said openin s and depending into the cellular spaces; said casing or frame member including means cooperating with the side and vertical transverse plates to hold the lower portions of the cylinders in place; and crank shaft bearings suspendingly sup ported by the vertical transverse plates; said casing or frame constitutin a unitary stress construction of great rigidity capable of withstandingthe severe stresses set up by the running of the engine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALAN ERNEST LEOFRIC CHQRLTON. 

